Stimulation of antibody response

ABSTRACT

The antibody response to an adjuvant type vaccine is augmented by incorporation in the vaccine of a polynucleotide or a complex of polynucleotides.

United States Patent Hilleman et al.

[451 Sept. 16, 1975 STIMULATION OF ANTIBODY RESPONSE Inventors: Maurice R. Hilleman, Lafayette Hill;

Alfred A. Tytell, Lansdale; Allen F. Woodhour, Horsham, all of Pa.

US. Cl 424/89; 424/361 Int. Cl. A6lK 39/12 Field of Search 424/85, 89, 180, 88

References Cited OTHER PUBLICATIONS Hilleman (1), The American Review of Respiratory Diseases, Vol. 90, No. 5, pages 694-699, Nov. 1964.

Hilleman (2), J. Cell. PhysioL, Vol. 71, pages'43-59, Feb. 1968.

Primary Ekaminer-Richard L. Huff [5 7] ABSTRACT The antibody response to an adjuvant type vaccine is augmented by incorporation in the vaccine of a polynucleotide or a complex of polynucleotides.

15 Claims, N0 Drawings STIMULATION OF ANTIBODY RESPONSE This application is a continuation-in-part of copending Application Ser. No. 11,891, filed Feb. 16, 1970, which was a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 761,004, filed Sept. 19, 1968, both now abandoned.

This invention relates to vaccines in general and particularly to vaccines containing agents which will increase the antibody response to the antigens.

Antigens are substances which stimulate the production of antibodies which, in turn, represent a major mechanism of the body to protect if from infective or allergic processes. The careful use of antigenic materials can result in the controlled induction of immunity or desensitization in living organisms. This is accomplished by the use of vaccines, allergen preparations and the like. Oftentimes, difficulties are experienced with antigenic substances in that their administration results in only poor or fair antigenic stimulation. Such suboptimal antigenicity can be partially overcome by the use of substances known as adjuvants which have the ability to enhance antigenicity. This invention relates to substances which can be added to adjuvants to enhance further their ability to stimulate antigenic activity.

The feature of the present invention is that the combination of polynucleotide material wtih an adjuvant results in an effect whereby the immune response is enhanced even when antibody response to aqueous type antigen is inhibited by the same type and quantity of polynucleotides. This enhanced immune response is most surprising when it is realized that the situs and mode of operation of antigens and polynucleotides are vastly different. Antigens inducethe formation of antibodies while the polynucleotides are known to induce the formation of interferon (Hilleman, J. Coll. PhysioL, 71, 4359, 1968). These two immune mechanisms are so vastly different in how and where they act that one could not have expected that the antibody enhancement known to result from adjuvants (Hilleman, The American Review of Respiratory Diseases, Vol. 90, No. 5, pages 694699, Nov. 1964) would be still further increased by the copresence of polynucleotides.

Antibodies are synthesized only in immune competent cells (lymphoid cells). They are formed in relatively huge quantities in well-identified protein fractions of the serum. They act by combining outside the cells with the antigen and thus prevent the latter to penetrate a new cell and replicate itself. Once a virus enters a cell, antibodies can no longer inhibit its replication. They are specific to the antigen which evoked their formation--thus antibodies against measles have no effect on influenza virus but will neutralize measles antigen when transferred from one individual to another They persist for months and even years. Further, antigens tend to stimulate division of target cells.

In contrast, the immune mechanism known as interferon, whose formation is induced by polynucleotides, operates inside the cell. lnterferons are species specific and must be formed in the cells of the animal under attack by the antigen. They cannot be transferred to another individual and retain their activity. They are synthesized in almost all cells in the body. They have a very short half life--e.g., interferon in rabbits is gone from the circulation within 8 to 24 hours. They are broad spectrum in their activity, being active against any replicating antigen such as herpes, vesicular stomatitis, mengo virus, rabies, etc. and other non-virus replicating antigens such as trachoma and malaria parasites. lnterferons have no activity against non-replicating antigens such as proteins, polysaccharides, hemagglutinins, hemolysins, allergens, bacterial toxins, etc., killed virus or against interferon stimulating polynucleotides. The mode of action thus is to prevent replication, inside the target cell and they have no tendency to produce proliferation of target cells.

In view of these vast differences in mode of operation, situs of action, duration of activity, etc., it is most surprising to find that the antibody formation by antigens, enhanced by adjuvants, is still further enhanced by the addition of polynucleotides (which are interferon inducers, not antibody producers).

While one investigator suggested (Litvinov Antibiotiki, 12(7), 602, 1967; Chem. Abst. 67, 7636, 1967) that concommitant adminstration to chickens of a live Newcastle disease virus vaccine (i.e., a replicating antigen) and of interferon enhanced the protection of the animals, one cannot, from this, predict that a polynucleotide will react synergystically with a nonreplicating antigen--adjuvant combination to enhance greatly the antibody production of the latter. The polynucleotide presumably would produce interferon in target cells. Meanwhile, in another part of the tissue, the antigen-adjuvant combination is producing antibodies and there are no grounds for expecting any interaction, let alone a tremendous enhancement of antibody production, since there is nothing in the prior art to suggest any effect by a replication-preventive on a non-replicating antigen.

Braun and Nakano (Science, 157:819. Aug. 1967) published the results of their use of certain polynucleotides as stimulators of the immune mechanism. They there reported their observations that certain polynucleotide complexes enhance the early rate of increase in numbers of antibody-forming spleen cells in mice immunized with sheep red blood cells or other particulate antigens, although the total number of such cells was not increased.

However, experiments conducted in developing the novel methods and compositions of this invention have shown that the addition of high molecular weight polynucleotide materials to aqueous type vaccines without the presence of adjuvants either produces no stimulatory effect or actually depresses antibody production.

Braun and Nakano [Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 119, 701-705 1965)[ have also published results of studies showing that oligodeoxyribonucleotides of about 2 to 5 nucleotide units can stimulate the antibody response to certain antigens for about only 48 hours following administration, and that the presence of higher molecular weight o1igodeoxyribonucleotides can interfere with this stimulatory activity.

Experiments conducted in accordance with this invention have shown that oligodeoxyribonucleotides do not enhance the activity of the known adjuvants. On the other hand, the addition of the polynucleotide ma terials useful in the novel compositions of this invention to adjuvant type vaccines does enhance the antibody response to levels far higher than achieved by the adjuvant vaccine alone and has the added advantage that the antibody levels are retained for longer periods of time than would be expected for known aqueous type or adjuvant type vaccines.

The adjuvants that are useful in this invention are the emulsion type adjuvants well known in the science of immunology. Such known emulsion type adjuvants include water-in-vegetable oil, water-inmineral oil, and vegetable oil-in-water. Any vegetable oil known to be suitable for use in injectable preparations and which satisfy the specifications of U.S. Pharmacopeia or National Formulary can be employed as the vegetable oil phase in the adjuvants contemplated for use in this invention, such as peanut oil, corn oil, olive oil. sesame oil, chaulmoogra oil, cotton seed oil, oil of sweet almond and persic oil.

Antigens useful for purposes of this invention are those that can be used with an emulsion type adjuvant and may be in the form of purified or partially purified antigen derived from bacteria, viruses, pleuoropneumonia-like (PPLO) organisms, rickettsia or their products, or the antigen may be an allergen such as dusts, danders, or in the form of a poison or a venom derived from insects or reptiles. In all cases the antigens will be in the form in which their toxic or virulent properties have been reduced or destroyed and which when introduced into a suitable host will either induce active immunity by the production therein of antibodies against the specific micro'organisms, extract or products of mi cro-orgnaisms used in the preparation of the antigen or, in the case of allergens, they will aid in alleviating the allergy due to the specific allergen. The antigens can be used either singly or in combination, for example, multiple bacterial antigens can be employed, multiple viral antigens, multiple rickettsia] antigens, multiple bacterial or viral toxoids, multiple allergens or combinations of any of the foregoing products can be combined in the aqueous phase of the adjuvant composition. Antigens of particular importance are derived from bacteria such as H. pertussis, Leplospira ponwna and icteroliaemorr/zagiae, S. typhosa, S. paratyplzi A and B, C. letuni, C. butulinum, C. perfringens, D. feseri and other gas gangrene bacteria, B. anthracis, P. pestis, P. multocida, V. clzolerae and the like; form viruses as poliovirus (multiple types), adenovirus (multiple types), parainfluenza virus (multiple types), measles, mumps, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza (various types), shipping fever virus (SP4), Western and Eastern equine encephalomyelitis, Japanese B. encephalomyelitis, Russian Spring-Summer encephalomyelitis, hog cholera virus, Newcastle disease virus, fowl pox, rabies, feline and canine distemper and the like viruses; from rickettsiae as epidemic and endemic typhus or other members of the spotted fever group, from various spider and snake venoms or any of the known allergens for example from ragweed, house dust, pollen extracts, grass pollens and the like.

The polynucleotide materials of the novel composition of this invention include homopolymers, double stranded complexes of the homopolymers, alternating copolymers, copolymers of random distribution, double stranded naturally occurring ribonucleic acids, hybrid double stranded complexes of homopolymers, and chemically altered polynucleotides.

The homopolymers contemplated by the novel compositions of this invention are polynucleotides such as polyinosinic acid (I), polycytidylic acid (C), polyadenylic acid (A), polyuridylic acid (U), polyxanthylic acid (X), polyguanylic acid (G), and polydehydrouridylic acid (DHU). These compounds are well known in the art, commercially available and represent a spectrum of molecular weights the range of which is difficult to determine with accuracy. However, sedimentation studies have indicated S values between about 3 and about l2 which indicate molecular weights of approximately 1 X 10 to 1.5 X 10.

The double stranded complexed homopolymers are complexes formed of two different homopolymers and are designated by such as poly l:C and poly A:U indicating a complex of polyinosinic acid (I) and polycytidylic acid (C) and a complex of polyadenylic acid (A) and polyuridylic acid (U) respectively. All the possible combinations are included within the scope of this invention. The double stranded complexes and their preparations are well known in the art. One method commonly employed is to mix the two selected homopolymers in equimolar concentration in phosphatebuffered saline at pH 7.0 (0.006M sodium phosphate, 0.0l5M sodium chloride) and the complex formation develops instantaneously after mixing as indicated by a hypochromic effect.

The alternating copolymers useful in the novel composition of this invention, as the name implies, are copolymers of two different nucleotides in which the two nitrogenous bases appear in a regular alternating fashion, and are designated as poly CU, poly IU, poly AC, poly GU, poly AG, poly IC, poly AU, poly AI, and so forth which signify alternating copolymers of C and U, land U, A and C, G and U, A and G, I and C, A and U, and A and I respectively. Copolymers of this type are also well known in the art and may be prepared through the action of RNA polymerase. The molecular weights as in the case of the homopolymers are not uniform but are in the range of l X 10 to 1.5 X 10. These polymers mimic the action of the double stranded complexes of homopolymers by double stranding about themselves through hydrogen bonding of the alternating complementary bases.

Naturally occurring double-stranded ribonucleic acids (DS-RNA) with a molecular weight of l X 10 to about 1.5 X 10 are also useful in the novel composition of this invention. These are well known materials preparable in known manner from various sources.

The hybrid double stranded polymers useful in the novel compositions of this invention are similar to the complexed homopolymers described about but differ in that one of the homopolymers is a polydeoxyribonucleotide of adenine (dA), thymine (dT), cytosine (dC). uracil (dU), hypoxanthine (dI), or guanine (dG) each with molecular weights in the range of l X I0 to 1.5 X 10'. These polydeoxyribonucleotides are known compounds and the hybrid double stranded polymers suc as poly GzdC, poly dGzC, poly IzdC and poly dI:C are also known complexes and are prepared in a manner similar to that described above for the double stranded complexed polymers.

Chemically altered polynucleotides useful in the novel process of this invention include the known compounds, poly N -methyladenylate, poly 6- methyladenylate, poly N -methylinosinate, poly N methylguanylate, poly S-methyluridylate, poly 5- fluorouridylate, poly S-bromouridylate, poly 5- iodouridylate, poly 5-bromocytidylate and poly 5- iodocytidylate.

The preparation of the novel compositions of this invention comprises mixing the three components; adjuvant, aqueous antigen, and polymeric material, in the appropriate proportions in any convenient manner.

The concentration of polymeric material that may be used encompasses a range from fractions of a'microgram to just below levels which demonstrate tissue toxicity in the host, animal or human, to which it is to be given, i.e. up to about milligrams/dose. The dose adminstration will vary with the host and with the nature of the adjuvant, the selected polynucleotide and the antigen: The polynucleotides are usable in this invention at doses below those at which they induce the formation of interferon. r

The antigen concentration of any given adjuvantcontaining preparation may be adjusted to be equal to an aqueous preparation with resultant enhancement of antibody response by virtue of adjuvant activity or it may be reduced to levels below aqueous preparations to economize on antigen with retention of antigenic ac- 'tivity comparable to aqueous preparations. Thus, the

obvious advantages of adjuvant activity are accentuated further by the addition of polynucleotides.

Braun and Nakano, Science 157, 819 (1967), state that the use of polynucleotides are advantageous immunologically in that their combination with an antigen increases the rate of antibody formation. The important aspect of the present invention is the fact that the actual quantity of antibodies elicited by an adjuvant type vaccine is increased when the polynucleotide materials are combined therewith. Such increased antibody levels result in greater immunity than can be achieved with aqueous type preparations or when adjuvants are used without added polynucleotides. As is stated above, an extremely small addition of a selected polynucleotide to known vaccine types, i.e., those made up of an antigen and an adjuvant, will serve to augment the antibody response in accordance with this invention.

Representative examples are the following:

. EXAMPLE 1 Adjuvant 65. a material consisting of 8671 (v/v) refined peanut oil. 10% (v/v) mannide monooleate (Arlacel A) and 471 (v/v) aluminum monostearate was combined with aqueous typeinfluenza virus vaccine containing 4800 CCA (chicken cell agglutinating) units of influenza virus antigens per ml. (Ag/J apan/ 1 70/ 62, 800 CCA units/ml; Ag/TfllWflH/l/64, 800 CCA units/ml. A/PR/8/34, 1600 CCA units/ml; and B/Mass/3/66, 1600 CCA units/ml.) or 1200 CCA units of influenza virus antigens per ml. to produce a water-in-oil emulsion containing a final antigen concentration of 600 CCA units/0.5 ml or 150 CCA units/0.5 ml.

Antigenically comparable aqueous type vaccine also was prepared.

Each of the vaccine preparations was used with or without added polynucleotides (poly 11C or poly A:U) as shown in Tables lu-ld. When polynucleotides were added, they were used at a concentration of 260 pug/dose.

These materials were injected intramuscularly into guinea pigs at a dose level of 600 CCA units on one 0ccasion (Table la) or on two occasions a month apart (Table lb) or at a dose level of 150 CCA units on one occasion (Table lc)or on two occasions a month apart (Table Id).

All animals were bled immediately prior to injection and monthly thereafter for an indefinite period. Sera were assayed serologically for antibody by the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) technique. The results of these assays are presented in Tables la-Id.

It can be seen from Tables Ia and lb that with the 600 CCA unit dose the polynucleotides did not enhance the antigenicity of aqueous type influenza vaccine when only one dose was given. There was some enhancement when two doses were given. Adjuvant 65 without added polynucleotides used in one or two doses enhanced antigenicity to such an extent that antibody production was stimulated to levels higher than those which were obtained following use of aqueous type antigen with or without polynucleotides. Addition of the polynucleotides to the adjuvant vaccines stimulated antibody pro duction to still higher levels whether on the one or two dose regimen. The stimulatory effect was most apparent in the later months.

From Tables 10 and Id it is seen that incorporation of poly A:U into aqueous type vaccine completely inhibited antibody response to all four influenza virus antigens whether one or two injections were given. On the other hand the incorporation of poly 12C into the aqueous type vaccine neither inhibited nor enhanced antibody response when compared to the antibody response of recipients of aqueous type vaccine alone. The adjuvant activity of adjuvant 65 is clearly demonstrated as is further enhancement by the addition of polynucleotides.

EXAMPLE 2 Adjuvant 65 type vaccine with without poly 12C (260 Mg./dose) or aqeous type influenza vaccine as described in Example 1 were prepared to contain 600 CCA units of influenza virus antigen and were injected into African green monkeys intramuscularly. The animals were bled immediately prior to injection and at monthly intervals thereafter. Sera were assayed serologically for HL antibody responses. The results are presented in Table II. It can be seen that the adjuvant 65 type vaccine without polynucleotide complex enhanced the antigenicity of all influenza antigens relative to aqueous type vaccine. Furthermore, the addition of poly 12C to the adjuvant increased significantly its effect. All influenza virus strains behaved similarly.

EXAMPLE 3 Purified trivalent influenza vaccine (B/Mass, A l- Japan/170, and A /Taiwan) was emulsified with incomplete Freund adjuvant, with or without poly 11C as was prepared as aqueous type vaccine with or without poly I:C. Guinea pigs were injected intramuscularly with one of the respective preparations at dose levels of 600 CCA units of virus and 263 pg. of poly 12C. The animals were bled immediately before injection and each month thereafter. Sera were assayed serologically by the HI method.

The results are depicted in Table III which shows the very effective adjuvant activity of incomplete Freund adjuvant. The enhancing effect of the test, is obvious. Again, no antigenic enhancement was given to the aqueous type vaccine by the addition of Poly I:C.

EXAMPLE 4 The procedure of Example 3 was followed except that the incomplete Freund adjuvant (water-in-mineral oil emulsion) was replaced by a vegetable oil-in-water emulsion consisting of 9 parts of purified peanut oil, 0.4

parts of Arlacel 80, and 0.6 parts of Tween 80 emulsitied with an equal volume of aqueous type vaccine.

The results are described in Table IV which shows a very slight adjuvant effect of the oil-in-water emulsion with respect to the aqueous type vaccine with both A influenza virus strains but not with the B strain. However, addition of poly 12C to the oil-in-water emulsion shows substantial adjuvant activity with respect to all of the antigens.

EXAMPLE Trivalent influenza virus vaccine (A /Japan/ l 70, A Taiwan and B/Mass.) as aqueous type, alum adjuvant type or adjuvant 65 type vaccine with various combinations and concentrations of poly l, poly C and Poly IzC, was injected at dose levels intramuscularly into guinea pigs l0 animals/group) of 600 CCA units. The animals were bled immediately before injection and monthly thereafter for the serological assay of respondent HI antibody titers. The nature of the dose and the results of the HI antibody titers are recorded in Table V.

The table shows that 260 ,u.. of Poly I completely inhibited the antigenic activity of both A and B type influenza viruses used as aqueous preparation. A twofold reduction in Poly 1 essentially eliminated the inhibitor activity. There did not appear to be any inhibitory or enhancing activity imparted by Poly C or the combined Poly I:C when used with aqueous type vaccine. A somewhat different situation was experienced with the alum type vaccine. There was an increase in antigenic activity of the alum adjuvant type vaccine without polynucleotide relative to aqueous type vaccine. The addition of Poly l, Poly C or Poly 11C to the material did not inhibit or enhance the alum adjuvant activity with any of the influenza virus strains. The antigenic activity of the adjuvant 65 type vaccine without polynucleotide was greater than either the aqueous or alum type vaccines. There did not appear to be any significant increase in antigenic enhancement with any of the influenza virus strains by the addition of Poly I or Poly C alone. The addition of complexed Poly I:C significantly increased antigenic activity to stimulate antibody production to levels which were far higher than those achieved with either the aqueous or alum type vaccines or which persisted so long.

EXAMPLE 6 A heptavalent respiratory vaccine containing influenza virus B/Mass (I00 CCA/dose), influenza virus A /-Taiwan lOO CCA/dose), parainfluenza virus type 1 (2 X particles/dose), parainfluenza virus type 2 (2 X 10 particles/dose), parainfluenza virus type 3 (2 X 10" particles/dose), respiratory syncytial virus (2 X EXAMPLE 7 Employing generally the procedures described in Example l, various combinations of an aqueous trivalent influenza virus vaccine, (A /Japan/ 170, A /Taiwan, and B/Mass.) or adjuvant 65 type vaccine without or with various concentrations of poly l:C were injected intramuscularly into guinea pigs (12 animals/group). Hemagglutination-inhibition antibody assays were performed with sera obtained immediately prior to initiation of the study and 1 month later. The nature of the dose and the serological assay results are recorded in Table VII.

It can be seen that the addition to adjuvant 65 type vaccine of as little as 2.6 ug. of Poly l:C per dose significantly enhanced the adjuvant activity of the A type influenza viruses even when they were employed at a concentration of as little as 10 CCA units. The B strain of influenza virus was not similarly responsive under the same conditions. It required at least 26 ,ug. of Poly I:C to enhance further the adjuvant activity.

EXAMPLE 8 Other examples involve the replacement of the viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae used in Examples 1-7 with other known human and animal antigens, to produce injectable vaccines for humans and animals which contain in addition to the antigen and the adjuvant a polynucleotide, or polynucleotide complex.

EXAMPLE 9 Other examples of the invention are those in which the complexed homopolymers and the homopolymers of Examples 1 to 8 are replaced by equivalent amounts of the functionally equivalent alternating copolymers, copolymers of random distribution, double stranded naturally occurring ribonucleic acids, hybrid double stranded complexes of homopolymers and chemically altered polynucleotide.

EXAMPLE 10 The enhancement of antibody formation by a synthetic double stranded polynucleotide (Poly 11C) to that obtained from a naturally occurring double stranded polynucleotide (MU-9), derived from E. Coli., is compared in Table VII, using influenza vaccine containing 400 CCA units of Az/AlChl/2/68 and 300 CCA units of B/ Mass/ 3/ 66 virus strains, with and without Adjuvant 65 and with and without one of the polynucleotides at I60 p.g./O.5 ml. The results given in the table are those from a single injection in guinea pig at time zero.

Examination of the data in the table shows clearly that, after 28 days. animals innoculated with influenza virus vaccine along or with influenza virus vaccine plus MU-9 had about the same antibody titer, while animals receiving MU-9 alone had not shown development of antibodies. When Adjuvant 65 was used with the vaccine, a significant increase took plate in the antibody titer. When MU-9 was added in addition to Adjuvant 65 to the vaccine, a still further increase in antibody titer was seen. but no antibodies were detected when the adjuvant and the polynucleotide were used along, without the influenza virus vaccine. The substitution of Poly l:C for MU-9 in the vaccine-adjuvantpolynucleotide combination also gave a very high antibody titers.

EXAMPLE 11 The procedure of Example 1 is "followed using, instead of adjuvant 65 a similar adjuvant in which the Arlacel A (which is only approximately mannide monooleate) is replaced with one-fifth the guantity of pure isomannide monooleate. The composition of this modified adjuvant is 94% (V/V) peanut oil, 2% (V/\/) EXAMPLE 12 2% aluminum monostearate USP aqueous influenza virus vaccine The mixture i:

cooled to 4C. and subjected to very high shea1 emulsification, cooling each time to 4 between cycles. An emulsion, stable for weeks, is obtainec 10 pure isomannide monooleate and 4% (V/V) aluminum which possesses enhanced antigenic activity. The monostearate. This adjuvant gives results with poly 1:C activity is further enhanced by addition of a polyand vaccines similar to those with Adjuvant65. nucleotide such as poly 11C and MU-9.

Table la 1 Guinea pig antibody responses to 1 injection of 600 CCA units of influenza virus vaccine used in various formulations in fluenza Vaccine Prepa ration Aqueous 64 1 1 1 aqueous poly l A.U

aqueous poly l A:U I:C adjuvant 1 adjuvant 65 poly 1 A:U

adjuvant 65 poly l I:C

Geometric mean H1 antibody titers at indicated months 128 l 'l37 274 194 128 l 137 Ill 97 69 All titers are expressed as the rccipr ocalof the serum dilution,

, m Table lb Guinea pig antibody responses to 2 injections a monthapart of f 600 CCA units each of influenza virus vaccine used in 1n- Geometric fluenza Virus Preparation A/PR/S As/Jap/ 1 various formulations mean H1 antibody titers at indicated months A2/Taiwan B/Mass aqueous l 56 64 12 34 24 aqueous 1 +po1y 1 6O 28 28 A: U

aqueous poly l I:C

adjuvant 65 l adjuvant 65 poly l A:U

adjuvant 65 poly l 12C I Table 10 Guinea pig antibody responses to 1 injection of CCA units of influenza virus vaccine used in various formulations lnfluenza Virus Vaccine Preparation Geometric mean H1 antibody titers at indicated months A2/Taiwan B/Mass Table I Continued Guineapig antibody responses to 1 injection of I50 CCA units of influenza virus vaccine used in various formulations In- Geometric mean HI antibody titers at indicated months fluenza Virus Vaccine A/PR/ 8 A2/Jap/ I 7C A2fl'aiwan B/Mass Preparation 0 I 2 3 4 0 I 2 3 4 0 I 2 3 4 0 I 2 3 4 +C o| 1 40 34 5 6 i 12 2 I3 7 1 4 2 6 3 1 6 l 3 I: adjuvant 65 I 478 I81 28 28v I 97 I81 64 I 56 56 40 1 40 24 20 28 adjuvant 65 poly I 388 223 79 '40 I 256 80 80 56 I 160 80 64 56 I 64 223 64 28 A:U

adjuvant 65 poly I 546 362 I28 I19 I 548 388 I81 I37 I 320 274 I94 I60 I 223 128 III 60 I:C

Table Id Guinea pig antibody responses to 2 injections a month apart of I CCA units each of influenza virus vaccine used in various formulations Geometric mean HI antibody titers at indicated months Vaccine A/PR/8 A2/JAP/I70 A2/Taiwan B/Mass Preparation 0 I 2 3 4 0 I 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 0 l 2 3 4 aqueous I 80 I43 30 20 I I5 45 30 23 8 20 30 20 I I I I6 I5 I7 aqueous poly 1 I I I I I I I I I l l I I I I l I l AzU aqueous poly I 57 320 40 20 I I4 I I3 63 40 7 67 20 I6 I l I 57 32 I6 I:C adjuvant 65 359 226 34 20 I I13 I43 57 48 71 I0! I 80 48 I 32 63 48 24 adjuvant 65 poly I I437 640 202 I27 I 254 359 320 I 226 359 359 I80 I I I3 320 254 I60 A:U adjuvant poly l 2032 844 I60 I35 I 320 640 279 I90 I60 320 243 I90 I 320 422 320 I90 I:C

TABLE II ANTIBODY RESPONSES IN MONKEYS INJECT ED ON ONE OCCASION WITH 600 CCA OF INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE OF AQUEOUS OR ADJUVANT 65 FORMULATION THE LA'I'I'ER WITH OR WITHOUT POLYNUCLEOTIDE. Influenza Geometric Mean HI Antibody at Indicated Month Virus Vaccine A2/.Iap./ I A2/Taiwan Formulation 0 I 2 3 5 6 0 l 2 3 5 6 Aqueous I I2 I l l I I I 4 2 2 I I I Adjuvant 65 I I60 86 26 I2 7 I I6 70 7O 26 9 9 Adjuvant 65 Poly I:C I 557 735 243 I37 80 60 l 557 485 279 I37 80 69 Influenza Geometric Mean HI Antibody at Indicated Month Virus Vaccine A/PR/S B/Mass Formulation 0 I 2 3 5 6 0 I 2 3 4 5 6 Aqueous I I0 2 3 I I 3 l 3 I I I I I Adjuvant 65 I 243 92 7O 30 I2 I7 I 21 I 121 92 26 I8 30 Adjuvant 65 Poly I:C I 557 965 422 208 I I9 I04 I 640 965 485 208 137 reciprocal of initial serum dilution WIO water-in-oil emulsion TABLE III GUINEA PIG ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO ONE INJECTION OF 600 CCA UNITS OF INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE USED IN VARIOUS FORMULATIONS Influenw Virus Geometric Mean HI Antibody Titers at Indicated Month Vaccine A2/Jap./l 70 A2/Taiwan B/Mass Preparation 0 I 2 4 O I 2 4 0 I 2 4 Aqueous I 6 6 I 28 20 20 I 6 7 7 Aqueous Poly I:C I I I 8 9 I 42 30 32 I 6 3 5 Mineral Oil** (W/O)* l 548 I096 I024 1 I096 I434 I096 l 776 1434 I946 Mineral Oil Poly I:C I 388 2355 I74] I 766 3072 25l9 I I260 4383 2519 (W/Ol 'W/O watcr-in-oil emulsion Mineral OH incomplete Freund type emulsion reciprocal of initial serum dilution TABLE IV GUINEA PIG ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO ONE INJECTION OF 600 CCA UNITS OF INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE USED IN VARIOUS FORMULATIONS Influenza Virus Geometric Mean HI Antibody Titers at Indicated Month Vaccine A /Japan/ I 70 A Taiwan B/Mass. Preparation l 4 0 I 2 4 O I 2 4 Aqueous I+ 9 6 6 I 28 2O 20 I 6 7 7 Aqueous Poly I:C I l I 8 9 I 42 3O 32 I 6 3 Peanut Oil (O/W)* I 39 24 l7 1 79 40 40 I 2 6 6 Peanut OiI (O/W) Poly I:C I 40 49 39 I I28 97 60 I 24 2O 2O O/W oil-inm'ater emulsion TABLE V GUINEA PIG ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO ONE INJECTION OF 600 CCA UNITS OF INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE USED IN VARIOUS FORMULATIONS WITH AND WITHOUT POLYNUCLEOTIDES I69 I37 I47 III 24 34 42 Concentration Polynucleotide Type Influenza (meg/Dose) Geometric Mean HI Antibody Titer at Indicated Month Virus Vaccine Poly Poly Poly A2/Jap./ I70 A2/Taiwan B/Mass Preparation I C I:C C I 2 3 4 O 1 2 3 4 O I 2 3 4 260 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I30 I 18 I2 5 3 I 8 I 2 2 I I I I I Aqueous 260 I 7 I4 I2 I l I I0 6 3 2 I I I I I I30 I 21 23 I6 8 I 7 I2 5 3 I I I 2 2 260 I 8 30 I I I7 I I I2 3 7 1 I I 3 2 I 23 I2 4 4 I 6 4 1 3 I 2 I 2 I 260 I 60 45 32 30 I 34 11 9 1 28 33 26 I8 I l 73 45 42 I 37 23 20 21 I 39 43 32 30 Alum* 260 I 37 30 26 24 I 32 I4 I7 8 I 37 S3 24 I6 I30 I 45 34 37 I 37 37 24 23 I 26 61 3O 30 260 I 64 42 34 45 I 34 24 IS IS I I4 25 I I I4 I 28 34 32 24 1 26 21 26 I8 I 24 12 3O 34 260 I 97 I I9 I I9 85 I 73 73 73 73 I 9I 45 97 I I9 I30 I I94 I I I 80 I04 I 73 97 64 69 1 64 37 73 Adjuvant 260 I I28 I19 I I9 I19 I 97 I04 I 52 28 52 73 (W/O)** I30 I I04 I47 I11 I04 I 85 91 6O 80 I 56 49 69 85 I I I I l I =rcciprncal of initial serum dilution &0 mg/dusc of potzmsium aluminum sulfate (alum) "W/()= wz|tur-in-nil emulsion TABLE VI GUINEA PIG ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO ONE INJECTION OF INACIIVATED HEPTAVALENT RESPIRATORY AGENT VACCINE EMULSIFIED IN ADJUVANT 65 WITH AND WITHOUT POLYNUCLEOTIDES Geometric Mean Antibody at Indicated Month Component of Type 0 I 2 4 HeptavaIent SemIogicaI With Without With Without With Without With Without Vaccine Assay Poly I:C Poly I:C Poly I:C Poly I:C PoIy I:C Poly I:C Poly I:C Poly I:C

Parainflucnza Neut. 1* I 7 2 7 3 5 3 Virus Type I Virus Type 2 Ncut. I I I3 IO 17 I I 7 II Parainflucnza Virus Type 3 Ncut. v I I 8 7 6 3 5 3 Respiratory Syncytial Virus Ncutt I I I7 3 28 6 9 6 Mycoplasma Complement Pneumonia Fixation I I 82 9 510 I7 I69 5 Influenza Hcmagglutim Virus Strain ation Inhi- I I 512 I69 I8I I I I 80 73 A2/Taiwan hition Influenza Hcmagglutin Virus Strain ation Inhi- I I I I 2 I28 40 64 26 B/Mass. bition ruci mcnl of inilizil scrurn dilution TABLE VII GUINEA PIG ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO ONE INJECTION OF VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF FORMULATIONS WITH OR WITHOUT POLYNUCLEOTIDES. Geometric Influenza Virus CCA Mean HI Antibody Response at Indicated Month Vaccine Units A2/Jap./17O A2flaiwan B/Mass. Formulation Per Dose 1 O 1 O I 500 1* 64 l 12 I 3 Aqueous 100 I 24 1 3 I 3 without 50 1 23 l 1 1 6 Poly I:C 1O 1 4 1 l I 5 0 l I 1 I I l 500 1 91 I 194 I 34 Adjuvant 65 100 I 128 I 137 I without l I 137 I 23 Poly I:C 10 I 69 I 39 I 17 0 I l I l I l Adjuvant 65 500 I 446 I 274 I 97 with I 274 I 274 l 39 260 mcg 50 l 320 l 194 I 49 Poly I:C I0 I 388 l 137 I 23 0 I I l I I I Adjuvant 65 500 I 388 l 256 I 56 with 100 l 5 I2 I 274 I 49 26 mcg 50 I 274 I 362 I 56 Poly I:C 10 I 256 I 362 I 24 0 l I I l I I Adjuvant 65 500 I 362 I 256 I 28 with 100 I I I l I 194 I 10 2.6 mcg 50 I 256 l 137 I 17 Poly I:C I0 I 320 l 128 l 3 0 I I I I I I reciprocal of initial serum dilution Table VIII Geometric Mean H1 Antibody Titer of Indicated Influenza Virus Strain at Indicated Time meg/0.5 ml. (derived from E. (2111') I60 meg/0.5 m1.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vaccine preparation for administration to a liv- 1. a homopolymer selected from the group consisting of poly l, poly C, poly A, poly U, poly X, poly G and poly DHU, of molecular weight 1 X 10" to 1.5 X 10,

2. a double stranded complex of two of the homopolymers,

3. an alternating copolymer selected from the group consisting of poly IC, poly AU, poly AI, poly 1U, poly CU, poly AC, poly GU, poly AG of molecular weight 1 X 10" to 1.5 X 10,

4. naturally occurring DS-RNA of molecular weight ofl X 10' to 1.5 X 10,

5. hybrid double stranded polymers selected from the group consisting of poly GzdC, poly dGzC, poly lzdC and poly dl:C, wherein each of the homopolymers poly dC, poly dG, and poly dl are of molecu lar weight 1 X 10" to,l.5 X 10, and

' 6. a known chemically altered homopolymer selected from poly N -methyladenylate, poly 6- methyladenylate, poly N -methy1inosinate. poly N -methyIguanyIate, poly 5 methyluridylate, poly 5-fluorouridylate, poly 5-bromouridylate. poly 5- iodouridylate, poly 5-bromocytidylate and poly 5- iodocytidylate.

2. The vaccine preparation of claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises the addition of an alternating copolymer selected from poly 1C, poly AU, poly Al, poly 1U, poly CU, poly AC, poly GU, and poly AG.

3. The vaccine preparation of claim I, wherein the improvementcomprises the addition of naturally occurring DS-RNA.

4. The vaccine of claim 1, wherein the antigen is derived from influenza viruses.

5. The vaccine preparation of claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the addition of a double stranded complex of two of the homopolymers.

6. The vaccine preparation of claim 5, wherein the double stranded complex is poly 11C or poly AU.

7. The vaccine preparation of claim 1, wherein the adjuvant is a water-in-oil emulsion.

8. The vaccine preparation of claim 7, wherein the improvement comprises the addition of a double stranded complex of two of the homopolymers.

9. The vaccine preparation of claim 8, wherein the double stranded complex is poly I:C or poly AU.

10. The vaccine of claim 1, wherein the adjuvant is a water-in-vegetable oil emulsion.

11. The vaccine of claim in which the adjuvant comprises 86% (V/V) refined peanut oil, 10% (V/\/') mannide monooleate and 4% (V/V) aluminum monostearate.

12. The vaccine of claim 10 in which the adjuvant is 94% peanut oil, 2% pure mannide monooleate and 4% aluminum stearate.

13. The vaccine of claim 10 which is an emulsion of 48% peanut oil, 2% aluminum monostearate and 50% of aqueous virus vaccine to which is added said polynucleotide.

14. In an adjuvant type influenza vaccine wherein the improvement comprises (the addition of) an additional component which comprises a fraction of a microgram to about 10 milligrams per dose of a double stranded complex selected from poly I:C and poly A:U wherein each of the homopolymers comprising said complexes has a molecular-weight of l X 10 to 1.5 X 10 15. The vaccine of claim 14 in which the polynucleotide is poly l:C. 

1. IN A VACCINE PREPARATION FOR ADMINISTRATION TO A LIVING HOST OF THE TYPE CONSISTING OF AN ANTIGEN AND (AN) A WATER-INOIL OR OIL-IN-WATER EMULSION TYPE ADJUVANT WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES ( THE ADDITION TO THE VACCINE OF ) AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT IN SAID VACCINE PREPARATION WHICH COMPRISES A FRACTION OF A MICROGRAM TO 10 MILLIGRAMS PER DOSE OF AN AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF:
 1. A HOMOPOLYMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF POLY 1, POLY C, POLY A, POLY U, POLY X, POLY G, AND POLY DHU, OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT 1X10**5 TO 1.5X10**6
 2. A DOUBLE STRANDED COMPLEX OF TWO OF THE HOMOPOLYMERS,
 2. a double stranded complex of two of the homopolymers,
 2. The vaccine preparation of claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises the addition of an alternating copolymer selected from poly IC, poly AU, poly AI, poly IU, poly CU, poly AC, poly GU, and poly AG.
 3. an alternating copolymer selected from the group consisting of poly IC, poly AU, poly AI, poly IU, poly CU, poly AC, poly GU, poly AG of molecular weight 1 X 105 to 1.5 X 106,
 3. AN ALTERNATING COPOLYMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP, CONSISTING OF POLY IC, POLY AU, POLYAL, POLY IU, POLY CU, POLY AC, POLY GUM, POLY AG, OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT 1X10**5 TO 1.5X10**6,
 3. The vaccine preparation of claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the addition of naturally occurring DS-RNA.
 4. The vaccine of claim 1, wherein the antigen is derived from influenza viruses.
 4. NATURALLY OCCURING DS-RNA OF MOLECUALR WEIGHT OF 1X10**5 TO 1.5X10**6,
 4. naturally occurring DS-RNA of molecular weight of 1 X 105 to 1.5 X 106,
 5. hybrid double stranded polymers selected from the group consisting of poly G:dC, poly dG:C, poly I:dC and poly dI:C, wherein each of the homopolymers poly dC, poly dG, and poly dI are of molecular weight 1 X 105 to 1.5 X 106, and
 5. HYBRID DOUBLE STRANDED POLYMERS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF POLY G:DC, POLY DG:C, POLY I:DC AND POLY DI:C, WHEREIN EACH OF THE HOMOPOLYMERS POLY DC, POLY DG, AND POLY DI ARE OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT 1X10**5 TO 1.5X 10**6, AND
 5. The vaccine preparation of claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the addition of a double stranded complex of two of the homopolymers.
 6. The vaccine preparation of claim 5, wherein the double stranded complex is poly I:C or poly A:U.
 6. KNOWN CHEMICALLY ALTERED HOMOPOLYMER SELECTED FROM POLY N1-METHYLADENLATE POLY "6-METHYLADENYLATE", POLY N7-METHYLINOSINATE, POLY N7-METHYLGUANYLATE, POLY 5METHYLURIDYLATE, POLY 5-FLUOROURIDYLATE, POLY 5BROMOURIDYLATE, POLY 5-IODOURIDYLATE, POLY 5BROMOCYTIDYLATE AND POLY 5-IODOCYTIDYLATE.
 6. a known chemically altered homopolymer selected from poly N1-methyladenylate, poly ''''6-methyladenylate'''', poly N7-methylinosinate, poly N7-methylguanylate, poly 5-methyluridylate, poly 5-fluorouridylate, poly 5-bromouridylate, poly 5-iodouridylate, poly 5-bromocytidylate and poly 5-iodocytidylate.
 7. The vaccine preparation of claim 1, wherein the adjuvant is a water-in-oil emulsion.
 8. The vaccine preparation of claim 7, wherein the improvement comprises the aDdition of a double stranded complex of two of the homopolymers.
 9. The vaccine preparation of claim 8, wherein the double stranded complex is poly I:C or poly A:U.
 10. The vaccine of claim 1, wherein the adjuvant is a water-in-vegetable oil emulsion.
 11. The vaccine of claim 10 in which the adjuvant comprises 86% (V/V) refined peanut oil, 10% (V/V) mannide monooleate and 4% (V/V) aluminum monostearate.
 12. The vaccine of claim 10 in which the adjuvant is 94% peanut oil, 2% pure mannide monooleate and 4% aluminum stearate.
 13. The vaccine of claim 10 which is an emulsion of 48% peanut oil, 2% aluminum monostearate and 50% of aqueous virus vaccine to which is added said polynucleotide.
 14. In an adjuvant type influenza vaccine wherein the improvement comprises (the addition of) an additional component which comprises a fraction of a microgram to about 10 milligrams per dose of a double stranded complex selected from poly I:C and poly A:U wherein each of the homopolymers comprising said complexes has a molecular weight of 1 X 105 to 1.5 X
 106. 15. The vaccine of claim 14 in which the polynucleotide is poly l:C. 